As the trade deadline came around in early March, labels got placed on players more than ever.

Often, contending teams are looking for what many consider to be little more than spare parts – an extra forward or a seventh D – that can provide some depth once the postseason comes around. But those deals, sometimes more so than the supposed “major trades,” have the potential to pay the biggest dividends.

For example, the Rangers acquired defenseman Raphael Diaz from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. The deal drew little attention at the time, as the 28-year-old Swiss native was considered to be “depth” with New York’s three D-pairs having been set for quite some time.

And yet, there was Diaz, logging 16:20 worth of ice time that included significant minutes on the power play in the Rangers’ 2-0 win over the Devils in Newark on Saturday.

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“It was my first game, first time on the power play,” said Diaz, who got into the lineup after John Moore was sidelined with concussion-like symptoms.

“It was nice, the guys helped me right away before the game…it helps you a lot when you know what to expect.”

Added head coach Alain Vigneault: “I liked his first game…I liked what we saw on the power play, having those three right-handed shots gives us a different look.”

Although not as dynamic a player as Diaz, former Rangers defenseman Corey Potter has provided the Boston Bruins with a different presence on their backend as well. The 30-year-old was claimed on waivers from Edmonton just prior to the trade deadline, a wise acquisition by a team that was desperate for help on the blue line after injuries to Dennis Seidenberg and Adam McQuaid.

Potter, who had brief stints with the Blueshirts during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, debuted for the Bruins last Tuesday, registering 15:09 time on ice and a plus-1 in his first game.

“Knowing that I hadn’t played in a little while, I was a little rusty at the start,” Potter said. “But the systems here, it makes it very easy for us on the backend. All in all, for not playing in a while, I think it went pretty well for myself.”

The Bruins are the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference, but could be troubled by a young D core that often struggles to compliment that presence of Zdeno Chara. One game in Newark might not seem like much, but with lineup changes often coming more frequently in the postseason, showing that he was capable of being able to jump right in could earn him his first opportunity to play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“It was challenging,” he said. “I was kind of thinking twice instead of just reacting, but I think those things will come with time and I’ll get adjusted. I’ve watched five or six games now, and I’ve had a chance to watch a lot of video. The coaches have prepared me pretty good, so it’s helped to have time to figure everything out.”

While Boston has cruised for the majority of the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have time on their side at all. Struggling to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference wild card race, the Leafs turned to their third-string goalie on Sunday after starter James Reimer was once again pulled.

The game marked Drew MacIntyre’s first in the NHL since November 25, 2011. He stopped all 14 shots he faced, and it’s possible he could finally make his first start at the game’s highest level in his 11-year pro career soon. In his second year in the Toronto organization, he serves as an example that sometimes the best options can come from within.

“I’ve never had a start,” he said.

“I’m still waiting, and I’d love for it to come some day and see what I can do without being thrown in midway through or whatever at some point of the game.”